When a juvenile reaches the age of emancipation, what happens to their record?

When a juvenile reaches the age of emancipation, their record is retained and not purged due to the legal implications and ongoing accessibility of certain information concerning juvenile offenders. While there are laws that protect juvenile records from public access, they typically remain in the system for certain circumstances, such as background checks or subsequent legal issues.

Retaining juvenile records serves various purposes, including allowing law enforcement and courts to refer back to an individual's history if they become involved in the legal system again. Moreover, although some content may be sealed or restricted, it does not get automatically deleted upon reaching adulthood.

In contrast, automatic deletion, reviewing for accuracy, or transferring to adult court does not occur in the standard process for juvenile records at emancipation. These other options misconstrue how juvenile records are handled legally and administratively as individuals transition to adulthood.